Just a reminder that Operation Christmas Child boxes are actually due next month if you like to participate in this. National Collection Week is November 18-25 so you might want to start collecting things now as you run across good deals.
We normally try to do a few boxes and I have found it is a great way to get the girls involved. I pick up little items on clearance all year round and this really is such a nice way to bless others.
You can see a box we did last year in the picture above. I like to get the clear plastic containers (shoe box size) at Target or Dollar Tree so that they can reuse these containers. It really does not cost very much to do one of these shoe boxes and I try to always include something comforting like a teddy bear or little doll plus I try to include a clothing item- especially if you do boxes for little girls. Just having them properly covered up can go a long way to prevent the abuse some of these children experience.
Oh and the plastic boxes are only $1.00 and they are really important (as opposed to a shoebox). Often the children carry water back to their villages in these boxes so well, well worth the $1 you spend. Your little ones can decorate with markers, stickers or the Glitter Glue would be perfect!
Shipping is $7 for these boxes. But you might check with your local church because often they collect these and will help with shipping charges.
If you are new to this and want to learn more, here is a little about it:
Operation Christmas Child is a donation program to send shoe boxes to children in need in war torn countries all around the world. More often then not this is the only thing a child will get for the holidays and many of them live under horrifying circumstances to begin with.
You simply pack a shoe box with items a child might want or need and then you print off a label and you can track exactly where your box goes. You can choose a gender and an age range for your box and inside you put items that would be appropriate.
Here are a few quick items you DO NOT want to include:
- Anything violent (no little guns, army men etc..)- if you are not sure just skip it.
- Anything that will melt (like chocolate)
- Anything liquid or breakable- nail polishes, body wash, glass jars etc…
- Gift wrapped items (the people in the processing centers need to see what you packed up for safety so don’t wrap stuff)
- Anything used
And here are the kinds of things YOU DO want to include:
- Personal hygeine products like fun toothbrushes, bars of soap, hair brushes, toothpaste, bandaids etc.. (Pack the soap in an extra Ziploc so that the candy doesn’t end up tasting like soap.
- Clothing (underwear, socks, pj’s, t-shirts etc..)- I try to avoid any characters on stuff because you don’t know where it will go. Elmo or cheerful graphic designs would be a safe bet.
- Toys- stickers, balls, cars, jump ropes etc…
- School supplies- crayons, coloring books, pens, pencils (and a sharpener!), markers etc..
- Other cool stuff like flashlights (and batteries!), hard candy, little plastic necklaces and bracelets, hair accessories etc…
And you can read more about Operation Christmas Child here.
karen says
Thank you for the information on Operation Christmas Child!! I am feeling very grateful this year for the good life that we have and was looking for another feel-good tradition. I was not aware of this program and got really in to it! I had a ball shopping and filling shoe boxes for the various ages!! Drop off is a few miles away! How awesome is that!! I will continue with this tradition!
Charlene says
Hi Karen- good for you! We love this too – and when you consider what many of the children are facing in their daily lives it just breaks your heart. At our church a group of ladies make pillowcase dresses for little girls and tuck underwear in the pockets because the children don’t even have proper clothing. If a child is wearing clothing that covered them up (and not garments that are too big or very ripped etc…) their chances of being kidnapped and sold into prostitution drop exponentially. It almost sounds like a line from a movie but it is true so I think this is a really worthwhile cause 🙂